Mairo Allawa and Daniel Atori, Minna
Following plans to tackle discrimination, The Leprosy Mission, Nigeria (TLMN) has disclosed that it will bring together 500,000 persons from different faiths to pilot peace and coexistence in four Niger communities.
The Head of Program and Operations, The Leprosy Mission, Nigeria (TLMN) Mr. Pius Ogbu said during an Inception meeting tagged Together in Faith and Freedom (Freedom of Religion or Belief), that the project in partnership with the TLM, Denmark which will have an initial 1,020 religious persons will end in December, 2027.
According to him “as humans we have over the time allowed the issue of religion to cause division amongst us. We are first humans and should live together in love and unity.”
Ogbu while disclosing that the targeted number of persons is 500,000 irrespective of their religions in Bosso, Chanchaga Tunga and Dokoko communities, said “the essence of the meeting is to build peace and tolerant in the religious space and to ensure there is no conflict amongst people”.
He also disclosed that the project responds to the following: stereotypes and mistrust between faith groups; Limited knowledge; weak community protection; economic pressure and political manipulation; exclusion of marginalized groups; and weak institutional response.
Also, a resource person and TLMN Head of Resource Mobilization, Mr. Terver Anyor cautioned the religious leaders against political manipulation by politicians especially prior to, and during elections.
Speaking earlier, the State Program officer, Habila Diko said the participants were carefully selected and the meeting is to ensure the right of every person to have and choose, change, to practice and share their religions and beliefs and be free from force, coercion or discrimination.
